Kyle Thomas

The Website of Kyle Thomas (KyleWith)

Why I like people more than the aurora

I have done very little aurora photography this year. It is surprising considering last year I did it so much but I shifted. I got bored with the aurora. To me every time I saw the aurora, while aways spectacular (plug: come visit), it was just the same. The same thing over and over again.

Sure many will say there are things you can do to make it catchy. Do it by a lake, cabin, with people in it, more landscapes, etc. But there is still a serious lack of story there for me.

What I have found is that I’m looking for more than a photo. I’m looking for a story. Not a hard hitting, top secret story, just any story. It could be the simplest thing because even that simplest little story has a much greater connection for me. 

Riel wife

He wrote a book – And finished it

Boundaries that society puts on us shouldn’t be taken very seriously. It should be said, “if you want to do something, you should do it”.

This is how I approached the book I just sent to the printer. I knew very little about publishing a book. Books are made out to be scary things. Not just anyone can publish a book I thought. That was until I realized – because of the Internet – it was possible.

Not only that but I never thought a book on this topic could be pushished. Who would want to read a book about homeless people? Well it turns out a lot of kind folks. I have realized that many people care about the topic and are interested in the book. This once again proves to me that if you can dream something up, you can make it happen, because chances are there is a whole group of people thinking the same thing but frequently only one person actually acts on it.

That does not mean there won’t be a lot of hard work involved. I certainly put in the hours on the book. Wandering the streets meeting people, taking photos, talking to them. Then transcribing their stories and formalizing them and finally laying it all out in a beautiful book. No easy task for sure. My hours and the hours of those that helped me were many.

But now comes the time for accomplishment, of feeling proud to have produced a product that will enlighten those who read it and help to give a voice to those who would otherwise not feel they have one.

The book, the physical book, made of paper, 10” by 8” in size isn’t even here yet. It hasn’t even been 24 hours since the book files went to the printer. Still that feeling of satisfaction overwhelms.

www.yellowknifestreets.com/book

Leonard gina book spread

Artist, Fox and Wide Open Spaces

Marcus Jackson FoxI have said it before, that I’m much more drawn to photographing people. There is something so powerful about capturing them, their surroundings and their personalities.

My dearest friend, Marcus, is an amazing artists and the idea I had in my head to capture part of his style was at night in a dark open space. We found ourselves out on an ice road minutes outside of Yellowknife. There is a single fill flash to camera left and one flash behind him, which created the harsh shadows of the chair.

Down to the snow falling, this image captures exactly what I wanted it to. His stare while clutching the deceased animal, sitting on a chair in the middle of darkness.

 

How to build a Qamutiq

Over a year ago, a friend of many years from Bathurst Inlet, NU taught me how to build a traditional sled known as a Qamutiq (or Komatik or Komatic). It was great knowledge to learn and I did retain a lot that day, I still would forget something so I did a quick search.

I found these plans how to build a qamutiq online. It appears that a couple organizations, including the Government of Nunavut and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, put these plans together for others to use.

qamutiq-plansIf you are interested in building your own you can download the plans here (PDF).